Pies and Plots

Writing Never Tasted So Sweet

Glazed Snickerdoodle Bars with Walnuts #SundaySupper

Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

Glazed Snickerdoodle Bars with Walnuts

Sweet and spicy.  That’s how I would describe 2013.  Some of it was pretty great.  I feel like I’m doing the best writing of my life (2014 will show if I’m right), I spent a lot of quality time with my parents doing fun things like shopping, going out to dinner with friends, and seeing plays, musicals, and even a concert.  My blog has started to grow, though it is still not where I’d like it to be, and I made some rather tasty food.  But my struggles with trying to get my dreams to become reality, frustrations over blogging, fears about what the future holds, and a few other things I didn’t talk about here on the blog, made it a tough year.

Isn’t that how most of us feel about the years?  That they were good and bad, sweet and spicy.  We look back and think of the things that didn’t go right, the things that didn’t get done, the regrets we have.  And then a decade down the line, when we look back, those mostly little things have hopefully vanished and we only remember the good parts.  Life is always a series of ups and downs, and hopefully in the end, there are more ups than downs.

Glazed Snickerdoodle Bars with Walnuts

Glazed Snickerdoodle Bars with Walnuts

2013 wasn’t my favorite year.  I wanted it to be better.  I hoped it would be better.  And now I’m looking to 2014, hoping, wishing that it has some good things in store.  Only time will tell.  For now, I sit, thinking about this year, and all the things that occurred during it.  Reliving the good bits, and trying to forget the bad ones. 

Regardless of my feelings about the year, it certainly went quickly.  Thinking back, it seems like January was just yesterday, like 2013 just commenced, like I want it back, to do over again, to use my time better.  I was just filled with that nostalgia for 2012, pleading with it to come back; now here I am again.  This time, I’m not asking 2013 to come back.  I don’t want it back.  I’m proud of a lot of the things I accomplished.  And this time, I’m really looking forward to 2014, because I think it has great things in store for me.  I think it’s going to work out.  So, 2014, here’s to you; may you be far more sweet than spicy.

Speaking of sweet and spicy, these Glazed Snickerdoodle Bars with Walnuts are just that.  Okay, so these are definitely more sweet than spicy, but two heaping tablespoons of cinnamon bring that warm, comforting heat, I crave this time of year.  I thought these would be dense and chewy like a blondies, but instead they baked up soft and moist, a dense, cake-like bar that I fell in love with after one bite.  I’m much happier they’re cakey instead of chewy.  The crunchy walnuts are the perfect complement to the cinnamon cake and the vanilla glaze is quite literally the icing on top.  If 2014 is anything like these bars, I think we’ll all be just fine!

Glazed Snickerdoodle Bars with Walnuts

Glazed Snickerdoodle Bars with Walnuts

 
Print

clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon

Glazed Snickerdoodle Bars with Walnuts #SundaySupper

★ 5 Stars ☆ ★ 4 Stars ☆ ★ 3 Stars ☆ ★ 2 Stars ☆ ★ 1 Star ☆

No reviews
  • Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
  • Yield: 18 bars 1x
Print Recipe

Ingredients

Scale

Bars

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 3 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 3 cups packed light brown sugar
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
  • 2 cups walnuts

Topping

  • 4 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

Glaze

  • 3 cups confectioners’ sugar
  • ¼ cup water
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 9 by 13 inch baking pan, line it with parchment and lightly butter the parchment.
  2. In a medium bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, cream of tartar, and salt.
  3. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. I did this by hand, but a hand or stand mixer will work too. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing until each is fully incorporated. Add the vanilla and beat until once again light and fluffy. Add the flour mixture and stir to combine. Stir in the walnuts until evenly distributed.
  4. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Spread into an even layer. In a small bowl, stir together cinnamon and sugar for topping. Sprinkle the topping into an even layer over the batter. Use it all.
  5. Bake for 40-45 minutes, rotating halfway through if necessary, until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. Cool completely in pan.
  6. Once the bars are cool, make the glaze. In a medium bowl, whisk together sugar, water, and vanilla until a thick, but spreadable glaze forms. Add more water to make it thinner or sugar to make it thicker as necessary. Immediately spread glaze evenly over bars. Cut into pieces and serve. Bars may be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or frozen, wrapped in pieces in parchment and foil and placed in a zipper bag for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature for about 2 hours.

Notes

Recipe adapted from Recipe Girl Cookbook via Confessions of a Cookbook Queen

  • Prep Time: 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: 45 minutes

Don’t forget to check out the other Sunday Supper dishes!

Breakfast

Appetizers & Snacks

Main Dishes & Sides

Desserts & Drinks

Join the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter on Sunday! We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm ET. Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. Check out our#SundaySupper Pinterest board for more fabulous recipes and food photos. Would you like to join the Sunday Supper Movement? It’s easy! You can sign up by clicking here: Sunday Supper Movement.

 

Comments

  1. I’d be mighty happy to have one of these bars right now. Best wishes to you for 2014 and I hope it will be a great year for you and your family.

    Reply

  3. 2013 wasn’t my favorite year either. We left Alaska, the place that *I* would love to live the rest of my life. On the upside delicious food is always helpful 😉 Love the snickerdoodle bars! Happy New Year!

    Reply

    • One of the reasons 2013 wasn’t one of my favorite years is that I didn’t get to move. Maybe one day you’ll get back to Alaska 🙂

      Reply

  4. Oh my, what I wouldn’t do for one of these bars with my coffee this morning.
    I can totally relate to so much that you posted today. There are times that I think I am my own worst enemy… questioning and all the fears that come along with putting ourselves out there through our blogs.
    It has been such a pleasure getting to know you through #SundaySupper this past year. Looking forward to your writing in 2014!

    Reply

  11. I agree that 2013 wasn’t all I had hoped it would be but it did go fast, that’s for sure.
    It is with high hopes that I look forward to 2014 and I wish you the best of everything in the coming year.
    Your cake looks delicious!

    Reply

  20. I LOVE Snickerdoodles, but I have never had them as a bar. Now I am wishing technology was advanced so I could just download these and have myself a moment or two of alone with my snickerdoodle bar!

    Reflecting upon time gone by is always full of fond memories and thoughts about how we could have done things better. Here’s to a wonderful 2014. May it be blessed!

    Reply

    • I always wish I could reach through the screen and try things bloggers make. Maybe one day 😉 Happy New Year, Ansh, and thanks for visiting!

      Reply

  23. They look amazing! This is a great recipe! I made your snickerdoodles yesterday and almost died because they were so good!!

    Reply

  24. This recipe looks really tasty… I am a sucker for anything Cinnamon and these seem to have enough of it 🙂 🙂
    Happy New Year, have a wonderful Old Years Eve! Xx

    Reply

  25. I’m pretty sure every year I ask myself what I actually DID the year previously and it always seems like not enough. But in actuality, I think we all do a lot more than we give ourselves credit for!! You are going to ROCK 2014. I just know it.

    And these snickerdoodle bars are going to rock my dreams until I make them…

    Reply

  28. I could not agree more – Goodbye 2013!!! I am so happy to begin a new year, with new hopes and wishes and goals. 2013 was a little more spicy for me than I would have liked, hopefully 2014 will hold more sweetness. Speaking of sweetness, that glaze was delish! There was such a great mix of texture and flavor and it paired well with coffee or a nice glass of milk. Thank you for this delightfully delicious treat!

    Reply

    • 2013 was definitely spicier than I hoped, so I’m think 2014 will be great for both of us 🙂 Glad you liked the bars! Thanks, as always, for your support!

      Reply

  32. Oh my goodness I already love snickerdoodles so I know I would have no self-contol with these delicious bars around.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. […] Glazed Snickerdoodle Bars with Walnuts from Pies and Plots […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe rating ★ 5 Stars ☆ ★ 4 Stars ☆ ★ 3 Stars ☆ ★ 2 Stars ☆ ★ 1 Star ☆

Privacy Policy